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Marco Civil: Statement of Support from Sir Tim Berners-Lee

This week, the Brazilian Congress may vote on Marco Civil, which some have called a ‘Constitution for the Internet’. Sir Tim Berners-Lee, founding director of the Web Foundation and inventor of the World Wide Web, has offered this statement of support.

“In this, the Web’s 25th anniversary year, people everywhere are demanding that their human rights are protected online. If Marco Civil is passed, without further delay or amendment, this would be the best possible birthday gift for Brazilian and global Web users. I hope that by passing this Bill, Brazil will cement its proud reputation as a world leader on democracy and social progress and will help to usher in a new era – one where citizens’ rights in every country around the world are protected by digital bills of rights.

“Like the Web, Marco Civil has been built by its users – the groundbreaking, inclusive and participatory process has resulted in a policy that balances the rights and responsibilities of the individuals, governments and corporations who use the Internet. Of course, there is still discussion around some areas, but ultimately the draft Bill reflects the Internet as it should be: an open, neutral and decentralized network, in which users are the engine for collaboration and innovation. Commendably, the Bill has among its foundations the guarantee of human rights such as privacy, of citizenship and the preservation of the diversity and the social purpose of the web.”

Sir Berners-LeeI do not know how much you are inside this Brazilian legislation, as I do not believe informations about it are really spread all over the world, but it allows the record of every thing people does in the web. And this is the point that concerns us, Brazilians.No neutrality can be produced by the government, as we see it across the world (ie, China, Turkey, Egypt)Hoping you review your position,Z

Marcol civil government is a farce, are telling another story to countries outside because they want to control the population against allegations of government corruption.Brazilian people against this civil March this dictator government is trying to control people and prosecute those who are against the government.Terrorist Dilma supports cuba, venezuera, iran, china enter other socialist countries and deploying this power over the people gradually.Demonstrations against the government are real, but the government tries to hide its true support for socialism and Brazilian people are against socialism.

I believe it is not well noticed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee that the basic of the project without any amendments gives to the President (herself at the moment) the power to control what may or may not be included in the neutral net.Another issue is the personal data being kept in data center geografically located in Brazil by the services that occur to be accessed in the country. This would become controversial by the global nature of the www.It is also important to focus the attention in the perspective that the Marco Civil gives the permission to the Executive Power to access any personal information to any person at any time without the Justice permission.Nevertheless, there is also a possibility to the same Executive Power or any other person to delete any content that might be offensive to themself. It is even suitable to mention that the service provider can be input as a co-author of any demand of offense or crime committed by individuals.I believe that Sir Tim Berners-Lee had not seen how controversial is this Marco Civil to the freedom of internet. It is also called a Political Mark, not civillian. Hope he take into consideration the serious issues that concern this law. It is far better without it.

Hello !I do not know how to get in touch with Sir Tim Berners - Lee , but beyond the version that told you about the Civil Marco the Internet that will be voted on tomorrow in Brazil, he had some information over the level legal points placed in this proposal, which the state requires content providers like facebook, google, microsoft, etc ... have to install their servers in Brazil for all content within reach of the government so it can be removed any thing that comes against the interests of the government and its affiliates?He knows that this year has elections in Brazil and the online community is showing mass theft and mismanagement of the government that are not shown on TV in a veiled censorship of newspapers and TVs?I wish that if he does not know this information, please ask to inform him before giving such support to civil March !Sorry for text errors, I use google translate!

Dear Tim, I'm not found of the idea of having heroes but if I would, you certainly should be amongst the two or three I'd praise. You can consider yourself the inceptor of the largest collaborative creation of mankind, and that's not a small thing.Concerning the Marco Civil, the questions we should be asking ourselves is: why do we need a marco civil of the internet, in the first place? Why is the government so eager to vote it in such a urgent pace? The internet doesn't belong to the government, less to say to the providers. Conceptually, it belongs to all of us users, individually and collectively.Any initiative from the government to regulate, to control, to discipline the internet is an attempt to usurp this incredible, pangeatic, construction of mankind, to tame the subversive power to question, to educate, to inspire, to mobilize (and also to corrupt, to imbecilize, to catechise, to manipulate) the only realm where we still are able to exercise our free will, where we can be the best and the worst of ourselves (frequently at the same time).Let's keep the internet free from questionable governmental interferences, allegedly for the greater good. Cheers

As I can see it can be used in both ways: to protect the commom citzen and also as a censorship since if it offend someone else honor it may be removed from internet. So if any politic can criticize saying that this and that offend him (even if its true) it will be surelly removed from the internet or the provider will be prosecuted.Awesome dont you think??Art 20 as you can see event if it agree with Constituition Art 5°, it forbbiden anonimate.

The "Marco Civil" is a trick so the government can control the internet in Brazil.The internet is free today, and the government is trying to destroy this freedom using regulation, so it can control the internet.Its is a very bad idea.

The Marco Civil is far form being "neutral". In fact, neutrality already exists far from the government eyes. With Marco Civil, government will create new apparatus like InternetBRAS or similar states "regulatory" institution to start spying on all the political opposition and to proceed in the intimidation strategies as a rule. Today we see a lot of mercenaries subsided directly by the government funds acting coordinated in order to vilifying the reputation of opposition leaders. You must reconsider your statement.

In recent years a lot of fascists in Brazil are coming out of the closet. That's not a bad thing per si (it's a lot better than hiding) but most of comments you see it's from people eager to despise Brazilian government just because they think we're living in a "communist" regime (if you're American, you know what I'm talking about) despite Brazil it's better than ever. Don't get me wrong: Brazil it's far far way from a good standard of living but these people are against ANYTHING Brazilian government do. Sadly, (I think) they're all on the wrong side of history. Five years from now all their FEARS will be be ridicularized and that's it. Marco Civil it's fantastic (not perfect) and it will probably be praised by global community.

Hello.I am from Brazil and I am currently doing my Master's in Network Engineering in the US.You have absolutely NO IDEA HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THIS DOCUMENT IS.This LAW is technically unfeasible (imagine, Mr. Lee, the internet without QoS). Or a country where companies cannot explore Consumer Intelligence Research. I am absolutely sure that you have not read this, otherwise you would not support.PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MR. LEE. YOU ARE A GREAT INFLUENCER ON THIS MATTER. READ THIS BEFORE YOU SUPPORT!!

Thank you for the support. This document, how you know, is about freedon of use web, freedom of speak. Who think this is about cemsoseao doest read the document and .. Is Crazy. Thank you. Brazilian people is very happy today.

Dear Mr. Lee, Brazil nowadays is threatened by a bunch of corrupt politicians who are trying desperately to control the internet and to censor the few opposition voices. Why would anyone want Brazil to be one of the first countries to adopt network neutrality when the country rank is:- 72 in Corruption Perception Index (CPI 2013)- 114 in Index of Economic Freedom (Heritage2014)- 85 in Human Development Index (HDI 2013) ?Please, rethink your position because you're helping that organized gang to repress ever more the brazilian people.Best regards,Paulo

We already have a free internet, all it does is open breaches that the government could use to censor us. Also, with the Marco Civil, the government will be able to shut down the internet countrywide at any moment they please.

Mr. Berners-Lee, the Marco Civil was approved, and your support statement certainly had a strong influence on this result, thank you very much!It is unbelievable the amount of under-informed and politicized opinions about it, even among the comments here. The Marco Civil is a very important step for building a better and more free Internet. People complaining about censorship, government control, or privacy issues did not debated, understood, or even read it.Once again, thanks again for your support, it was more than welcome!

Berners-Lee,I think you don't know in detail the proposal, so I ask you to read in its entirety to understand that this so-called DEMOCRACY advocates who claim that law bluff.An open, neutral and decentralized network we've had in the last 25 years. But ...Approve the "Marco Civil" is to open the doors to an avalanche of decrees, ordinances, resolutions or even provisional measures which we ignored.The text of Marco Civil da Internet should be read with caution. The important thing is not the "good intentions" described ("promote Internet access to all", "ensure freedom of expression and avoid censorship" ...), but the exceptions foreseen for the rights.EXAMPLE: Art. 9, § 3 – in the provision of Internet connection (...) it is forbidden to block, monitor, filter, analyze or monitor the contents of data packets, EXCEPT the CHANCES to BE ACCEPTED in the LEGISLATION.What is highlighted is the most important: there will be a law that will allow the Government to do everything that the beginning of the sentence prohibits: block, monitor, filter, analyze or monitor the contents of data packets.The PL 21262012 is full of references to laws or regulations that do not yet exist.Therefore, I repeat: Approve the "Civil" Landmark is opening the doors to an avalanche of decrees, ordinances, resolutions or even provisional measures which ignored. "Words of: Luiz Carlos Lodi da Cruz

There are points in the Marco Civil that I really approve like the "neutralidade da rede" but I guess Sir Tim Berners-Lee doesn't read the lines saying that my connection logs must be stored for at least 1 year and all my logs, pages and whatever must be stored for at least 6 months. How can the government guarantee my privacy? Another point is that the President can interrupt, degrade or reduce the quality of the connection at her will. Internet is a world wide entity and no country should control it alone.